NHL

Tom Wilson Suspended Twenty Games for Sundqvist Hit

With a new season starting and the challenge of winning the Stanley Cup beginning anew, everyone is excited to get back to the game. However, Tom Wilson will not be part of the fun. Wilson has been suspended after a high hit on St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist during the final preseason game. He will be out for 20 games.

“He’s trying to find that fine line between it being legal and illegal. . . He’s always got to be careful with how he’s hitting,” said Wilson’s teammate, Brett Connolly.

Sundqvist was cutting across center when Wilson brought his shoulder up, seemingly making head contact. The mid-ice collision was enough to shatter Sundqvist’s face shield and leave him sprawled on the ice awaiting the medical staff. Wilson received a match penalty and was ejected from the game.

The Department of Player Safety (DoPS) made the ruling following a two-hour, in-person hearing on Wednesday morning. It was clear the punishment was going to be severe, but 20 games was a little more than most people expected. Between eight and ten games seemed fair for the hit, but the league is now trying to send a message. With this ruling, Wilson will not be available until the Capitals face the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 21.

While he missed opening night, Wilson dressed and joined the team on the ice for the banner raising ceremony. Capitals head coach Todd Reirden announced Thursday that Wilson will be appealing the decision. With a lengthy appeals process, it may be possible that the sentence is almost served before a decision can be reached or worse. It’s possible that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the neutral arbitrator for the case decide the sentence isn’t long enough.

A History of Violence

This isn’t even close to the first hard, heavy hit that Wilson has made against the Blues. It’s just the current one. He missed the Capitals’ season opener last year as well, after being suspended for four games for boarding. Both that suspension and the one before – just two games – were in preseason matches against the Blues.

Wilson missed postseason time as well after being suspended during the second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was suspended three games for a check to the head that broke Zach Aston-Reese’s jaw.

The DoPS video explanation succinctly detailed the reasoning for such a lengthy suspension. “In short, including preseason and postseason games played, this is Wilson’s fourth suspension in his last 105 games, an unprecedented frequency of suspensions in the history of the Department of Player Safety.”

Teammate Devante Smith-Pelly was not afraid to voice his opinion regarding his suspension. “Just because it’s him doesn’t mean you have to make a statement or whatever. I mean, I don’t want to say anything too crazy, but it’s garbage.”

Social Media

Follow Jess on Twitter @jmstarr_

Photo Credit

Photo Courtesy of Bridget Samuels